Stroessner

Alfredo Stroessner was the dictator of Paraguay from 1954 to 1989. His regime was one of the longest-lasting dictatorships in Latin America. Born in Encarnación, Stroessner joined the military and rose through the ranks. He seized power in a coup d'état in 1954, ousting the incumbent president.

Throughout his rule, Stroessner maintained control through a combination of political repression, censorship, and the suppression of dissent. His government was characterized by widespread human rights abuses, including torture, disappearances, and extrajudicial killings, often targeting perceived political opponents. The Colorado Party, which Stroessner led, became the sole dominant political force in the country, with elections often criticized for lacking fairness.

Economically, Stroessner's Paraguay saw some infrastructure development and foreign investment, particularly in hydroelectric projects like the Itaipu Dam. However, this progress was often accompanied by corruption and a widening gap between the wealthy elite and the impoverished majority. His regime also maintained close ties with the United States during the Cold War, presenting himself as a bulwark against communism.

Stroessner's downfall came in 1989 when he was overthrown in a military coup led by his former ally, General Andrés Rodríguez. He was subsequently exiled to Brazil, where he died in 2006. His legacy remains a subject of debate in Paraguay, with some acknowledging certain developmental aspects of his rule while others condemn the severe human rights violations and authoritarianism that defined his nearly four-decade-long dictatorship.